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How Sweet It Is!
Did you know Pennsylvania is a significant maple syrup producer in the U.S., ranking in the top 10 producing states? In 2023, the state produced 205,000 gallons of maple syrup, generating $7.5 million in revenue. It is an important part of Pennsylvania’s agriculture economy, with both large companies and small farms involved.
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Patterson Farms in Lawrenceville and get an inside look at how their products are made. They have been making maple syrup for five generations, and they are the largest producers of maple syrup in Pennsylvania with over 75,000 trees tapped! I enjoyed my tour, learning about the technology they use to get the sap from the tree to bottle. Naturally, the industry faces challenges primarily due to Pennsylvania’s short maple season, which typically runs from February to March and relies on specific temperature conditions
It was sweet getting an inside look on maple syrup production. We are fortunate to have many excellent maple producers locally, offering naturally sweet treats. Be sure to tap into a taste of Pennsylvania and support one of our many maple syrup producers.
You can learn more about how maple syrup is made here.
Or tap into all the possibilities that maple syrup has to offer here.
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Tioga and Bradford Counties – A Golfer’s Paradise
It is a privilege to live in an area that offers numerous recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. Our area has some of Pennsylvania’s best golf courses, making it a golfer’s paradise. I recently had the pleasure of visiting River Valley Country Club in Westfield. I didn’t have time to enjoy a round of golf with the guys, but I did enjoy a scenic drive through their beautiful and challenging 18-hole public course, which is surrounded by rolling hills, streams and ponds.
As with many of our local golf courses, weather significantly impacts daily operations. We revisited the site with major flooding from last summer, and the crew detailed their stream cleanup, repair work, and bank stabilization efforts to mitigate future flooding. They really did a great job!
We are fortunate to have abundant natural beauty surrounding us, and our local golf courses are diligently working to showcase the stunning mountains, streams, and trees – making it a welcoming place for visitors and ensuring locals and future generations can enjoy the outdoors.
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Reopening of Tompkins Campground
I am excited to announce the reopening of Tompkins Campground at the Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lake in Tioga County. Following a federal civilian hiring freeze that began on March 2, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will reopen the campground on June 30 and it will remain open until Oct. 14, extending its normal recreation season by six weeks. USACE Baltimore District’s March request for a hiring exemption for affected recreation projects has been approved, enabling the hiring and training of sufficient staff to safely operate the facilities.
All reservations made prior to the closure announcement were canceled. New reservations are required for the remainder of the camping season and may now be booked at Recreation.gov. For assistance with reservations, visit.
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Community Proud!
It is not every day that I get to send off district champs on their way to state quarterfinals! I was headed to meet Paul Zelinka, owner of Home Comfort Restaurant in Westfield, when he called with the awesome news that Cowanesque Valley’s boys baseball team’s bus was off to Bald Eagle High School for the state quarterfinals. It was awesome seeing the team off and all the school support. Before I headed down to the game to cheer on the team, I had the pleasure of having lunch at Home Comfort Restaurant. It was heartwarming to witness the positive impact that the Home Comfort staff has on the people of Westfield and beyond. We live in a close-knit community, and I am proud of how our residents, schools, organizations and businesses support each other through both challenges and triumphs.
In the end, the Cowanesque Valley baseball team played an excellent game. Although they didn’t win, they represented our community well. As a young team, they have a lot to look forward to. With their continued hard work and determination, they will most certainly be a force to be reckoned with.
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Grants to Support Affordable Housing
Few things are more important than having a roof over our heads. Last week, three housing programs serving Tioga and Bradford counties collectively received $775,000 in state grants to help address housing needs in our communities.
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Trehab was awarded $300,000 for its Bradford County Homeownership Assistance Program, which aims to mitigate the effects of the Marcellus Shale housing shortage on low- and mid-income residents. Funds will be used to provide down payment and closing cost grants or repair funding. |
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The Tioga County Homeless Initiative was awarded $125,000 toward its 30-unit facility that supports people in the county who have no place to call home and another $50,000 to support its re-housing program. |
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The Tioga County Housing and Redevelopment Authority was awarded $300,000 for its Housing Preservation Program to provide landlords an opportunity to improve the physical condition of their rental properties in exchange for a commitment to renting to county residents who meet income guidelines. |
The grants were approved by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement program. PHARE is funded by Marcellus Shale impact fees, realty transfer taxes and the National Housing Trust Fund.
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New Handicap Seating at Tioga County Fairgrounds
Thanks to a workday organized by Expand Energy and six of its employee volunteers, the Tioga County Fairgrounds are now more accessible to everyone. Raise the Region’s fundraising project provided a much-needed handicap seating area at the track, ensuring everyone can enjoy the full fair experience. The 2025 fair season promises to be exciting, and I appreciate the fair’s commitment to accessibility for all.
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An Ice Cream Lover’s Dream Getaway!
Looking for a way to sweeten your summer? Check out this year’s Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail to help find the best cool treats of the season.
A partnership of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PA Preferred® program, the state’s Tourism Office and the Center for Dairy Excellence, the eighth annual ice cream trail will take visitors all across Pennsylvania to more dairy destinations than ever.
Participants can accumulate points by visiting trail stops and making purchases. Points accumulated from May 30 to Sept. 7 earn prizes through the trail’s digital passport. Prizes include a commemorative metal tumbler for six stops, and for 10 stops, an entry into a grand prize drawing to win an overnight getaway to Lancaster County to experience “life on the farm.”
Travelers on the Ice Cream Trail can plan their adventures, learn about participating creameries and sign up for the free digital passport at visitpa.com/scooped.
I may be partial, but the best stop on the trail can be found right here in Tioga County, so be sure to start your tour at the Main Street Creamery in the heart of Wellsboro.
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PA Must Do More to Restore Integrity of Medicaid Program
As the annual state budget deadline nears, the House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing Monday to highlight growing issues in the Commonwealth’s Medicaid program. Currently, more than 1 million able-bodied adults without dependents are enrolled in the program, while more than 14,000 disabled individuals remain on a waiting list for services.
Testifiers from the Foundation for Government Accountability testified about how Pennsylvania’s ability to deliver effective assistance to its neediest residents is being hampered by a lack of work requirements or accountability for able-bodied adults without dependents, as well as outdated verification systems that fail to detect ineligible enrollees and growing costs that jeopardize the sustainability of core services.
Republican lawmakers signaled a commitment to advance solutions that promote efficiency, transparency and compassion through reform—ensuring that taxpayer dollars are responsibly managed and prioritized for the truly vulnerable. Video of the hearing is available here.
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House OKs Bill to Boost Public Safety
To support law enforcement agencies in their efforts to solve crimes and keep their communities safe, I recently voted in favor of legislation known as the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act.
The measure would provide grant funding to police departments to help hire additional investigators, submit evidence for forensic testing, upgrade management systems and take other steps to help make arrests for homicide and other violent crimes. It would require at least 10% of grants to go to rural departments.
The program is needed as advances in forensic science, data analysis and digital evidence tools are transforming how police solve crimes, but not all departments can afford the necessary tools to bring perpetrators to justice. House Bill 1511 goes to the Senate for consideration.
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